Beyond this assertion, it also implies that even today Mizrahi Jews would not identify with Zionism if it weren’t for this dishonest effort to recruit them to the cause. As if the “white Jews” are the only ones capable of forming opinions of their own.The allegation that Mizrahi Jews cling to Zionism because it was forced upon them is racist in the way it infantilizes an entire community and implies that our views could not possibly be our own. This ignores the authentic religious and spiritual identity of Mizrahi (or non-Ashkenazi) Jews who, like their religious counterparts in Europe, prayed toward and for Jerusalem every day. In other words, he was not and could never be brainwashed.To be sure, many early Zionist leaders in Europe did make a concerted effort to recruit Mizrahi Jews to grow their movement, and that certainly included propaganda efforts. That said, the Mizrahi community overwhelmingly supports Zionism and the State of Israel.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 02, 2021 20:15 UTC